All You Need to Know About Weight Gain Issues in Breastfed Babies

Issues Related to Weight Gain in Breastfed Babies

The issues of infant weight gain includes:

• Low Supply of Breastmilk

A low supply of breastmilk can affect the weight and overall health of the breastfed baby. Infrequent feeding, hormonal imbalances, and stress are some factors that can lower the supply of breastmilk. Therefore, lactating mothers must regularise the nursing sessions and maintain adequate hydration to boost their breastmilk supply.

• Poor Feeding Techniques

New mothers may not be aware of the proper feeding techniques. Not holding the baby in the right way or too far may affect the baby's breastmilk intake and even reduce milk production over time. In other words, improper lactation techniques may lead to poor latching, making it difficult for the baby to draw milk adequately. Insufficient milk intake may hinder weight gain for your little one.

• Feeding Duration & Frequency

Feeding duration and frequency play a crucial role in helping your baby gain weight the desired way. Wrong duration and frequency can lead to issues related to weight gain in breastfed babies. Typically, newborns need to be breastfed every 2 to 3 hours. Even night-time breastfeeding sessions must be there. Short-duration or infrequent feeding may lead to a calorie deficiency in your baby, hindering healthy weight gain.

• Underlying Medical Issues

Sometimes metabolic disorders or rare medical conditions such as tongue-tie reflux may disrupt the process of digestion or effective feeding. The result is poor weight gain in breastfeeding infants.